Buddleia plant named &#39;SMNBDO&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Buddleia  cultivar named ‘SMNBDO’ is disclosed, characterized by compact, dense habit less than 3 feet tall with thick, chunky stems with short internodes; heavy, wide, coriaceous, textured leaves; large and wide panicles of lilac-pink flowers; and cold hardiness. The new variety is a  Buddleia,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Buddleia davidii.

Variety denomination: ‘SMNBDO’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Buddleia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Timothy D. Wood, in Grand Haven, Mich., USA.The objective of the breeding program was to produce compact plants withstrong branches in a range of flower colors. The cross resulting in thisnew variety was made during 2012.

The seed parent is the patented Buddleia davidii ‘UCONNBD610’, patentpending, having application Ser. No. 14/545,685. The pollen parent isthe unpatented Buddleia davidii ‘Pink Delight’. The new variety wasdiscovered in 2013 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resultingfrom the 2012 crossing, in Grand Haven, Mich., USA.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by softwood stemcuttings. This was first performed in Grand Haven, Mich., USA in 2013and has shown that the unique

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SMNBDO’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SMNBDO’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SMNBDO’ as a new and distinct Buddleiacultivar:

-   -   1. Compact, dense plants less than three feet tall.    -   2. Thick, chunky stems with short internodes.    -   3. Heavy, wide, coriaceous, textured leaves.    -   4. Large and wide panicles of lilac-pink flowers.    -   5. Cold hardiness comparable to the most cold-hardy Buddleia        davidii on the market.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNBDO’ are similar to plants of the seedparent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar ‘SMNBDO’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The cultivar has a larger plant diameter.    -   2. The new variety has smaller lateral branch lengths.    -   3. The new variety has persistent flowers, whereas the parent        has self-cleaning flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNBDO’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar ‘SMNBDO’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. The new variety is shorter than the pollen parent.    -   2. The new variety has a smaller diameter than the pollen        parent.    -   3. The new variety has lavender flowers whereas the pollen        parent has pink flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SMNBDO’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Buddleia ‘Peakeep’. The two Buddleia varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety‘SMNBDO’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new cultivar is a semi-dwarf, whereas the comparator is        standard size.    -   2. The new cultivar has tighter flower clusters, whereas the        comparator has looser flower clusters.    -   3. The new cultivar has panicles more horizontal/outward,        whereas the comparator has panicles more upright/outward.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates a plant of ‘SMNBDO’grown in a nursery, in a 2 gallon pot.

FIG. 2 illustrates 1 illustrates in full color a typical inflorescenceof ‘Age of the plant photographed is approximately 2-3 years old from arooted cutting. The photographs were taken using conventional techniquesand although colors may appear different from actual colors due to lightreflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographictechniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 1996 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘SMNBDO’ plants grown in a poly greenhouseduring the June, in Grand Haven, Mich. USA. The growing temperatureranged from 18° C. to 27° C. during the day and from 5° C. to 10° C.during the night. General light conditions are natural sunlight.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Buddleia davidii ‘SMNBDO’-   Propagation:-   Type of propagation typically used: Softwood cutting.-   Time to initiate roots: 14-21 days at 21-29° C. average temperature.-   Time to produce a rooted young plant: 30 days at 21-29° C. average    temperature.-   Root description: Dense, free-branching, medium thickness, fibrous.    Color is white, not accurately described with R.H.S. chart.-   Plant:-   Age of plant described: 2-3 years from rooted cutting.-   Plant type: Perennial shrub-   Container size of the plant described: in ground.-   Appropriate containers: 1, 2, 3, 5 gallon commercial pots.-   Growth habit: Upright/rounded.-   Overall plant shape: Upright.-   Height: 52.35 cm.-   Plant spread: 87 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Plant vigor: Strong.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Quantity.—Approximately 11.        -   Branching habit.—Upright and slightly outward.        -   Branch appearance.—Woody, with pubescence on newer growth.            Rounded.        -   Length.—38 to 42 cm.        -   Diameter.—8 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow Green Group 146D, with light overlay            of Greyed-Purple Group 187A.        -   Pubescence.—Present.        -   Stem aspect/angle.—Approximately 0 to 35°.        -   Strength.—Good.-   Internode length: 2.5 to 3.0 cm.-   Foliage:-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, single.        -   Average length.—15.4 cm.        -   Average width.—4.4 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Slightly undulate and serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Soft, coriaceous, and pubescent with            distinct veins.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Soft and pubescent with distinct            veins.        -   Pubescence.—Yes, both upper and lower side of leaf.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 143A, fading            to RHS Green 141A near central vein. Young foliage under            side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 193B. Mature foliage upper side:            Near RHS Green 141A, fading to RHS Green 139A near base.            Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Greyed-Green 192A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Green 143B. Venation color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green            145A.        -   Petiole.—Length: 3.0 to 6.0 mm. Diameter: up 2.5 mm. Color:            Upper side: Near RHS Green 145B. Lower side: Near RHS Green            145B. Texture: Upper side: Soft and pubescent. Lower side:            Soft and pubescent.-   Flower:-   Flower arrangement: Cone-shaped panicle.-   Flower type: Slaverform.-   Flowering habit: Freely flowering on terminal branches, will develop    panicles at other nodes after terminal panicle has bloomed.-   Natural flowering season: Mid-summer to early fall.-   Inflorescence height: 12 cm.-   Inflorescence width: 5.6 cm.-   Flower longevity on plant: 3-4 weeks-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent.-   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: Thousands.-   Quantity of flowers per plant: Thousands.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Linear with protruding square cap.        -   Length.—10.0 mm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 70A, fading to Red-Purple 70D at            tip and Violet 83D at base.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—0.6 cm.        -   Length.—1.0 cm.-   Petals:    -   -   Appearance.—Smooth, vibrant.        -   Arrangement.—Whorled.        -   Petal length.—3.0 mm.        -   Petal width.—2.5 mm.        -   Quantity.—4.        -   Texture.—Smooth and soft.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Shape.—Oblong to obovate.        -   Base.—Slightly acute.        -   Margin.—Faintly undulate.-   Petal color: When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet    81A. Lower surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet 82A. Fully opened: Upper    surface: Near RHS Purple-Violet 80A. Lower surface: Near RHS    Purple-Violet 82A. Fading to Color: Upper: Near RHS Brown 200A.    Lower: Near RHS Brown 200A.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—4.        -   Arrangement.—Fused into calyx tube.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate to Ovate.        -   Length.—2.25 mm.        -   Width.—0.75 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire/inconspicuous.        -   Texture.—Upper: Slightly pubescent. Lower: Smooth, slightly            pubescent.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C fading to            147C. Lower Surface: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C fading to            Green 135C.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong and unguiculate        -   Length.—3.0 mm.        -   Diameter.—1.0 mm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—2 to 3 mm.        -   Diameter.—0. 5 cm.        -   Angle.—Upright, outward.        -   Strength.—Good.        -   Texture.—Smooth, pubescent.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Diameter.—Less than 0.5 cm.        -   Angle.—30 to 45°.        -   Strength.—Good.        -   Texture.—Smooth        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B-   Fragrance: Strong honey scent.-   Reproductive organs:-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—4.        -   Filament length.—2.5 mm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Greyed-Yellow 161A.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong.        -   Length.—1.0 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS White 155B.        -   Pollen.—Quantity: Some. Color: Near RHS Yellow 11C.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—4.0 mm.        -   Style.—Length: 1.0 mm Color: RHS Yellow-Green 145A.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Oblong. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A.            Ovary Color: RHS Yellow-green 146D.-   Other characteristics:-   Seeds and fruits: None observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Buddleia observed to date.-   Lowest temperature tolerance: to date in trials −31° C. Highest    temperature tolerance: to date in trials 38° C.-   Garden performance: Good, strong stems resist breakage from    environmental stressors.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleia davidiiplant named ‘SMNBDO’ as herein illustrated and described.